Another Journey Around the Sun - for 2!

Dear Ones, It is quite a shock to wake up in the morning and see someone that looks a lot like your grandfather staring back from the bathroom mirror. Then you remember, “Hey, you ARE old!” It’s not like we are old enough to be President of the USA or anything, but we both celebrate another lap the sun this month. Back in 1982 our pastor preached from Psalm 67 in our wedding, and God is still pouring out the mercy to walk it, “May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him” (Psalm 67.7). We have received so many blessings, and it has been our greatest joy trying to give them away! Thanks so much for the many years of your prayers and support for us and God’s Church. We continue to serve with the Community Life team of IDEAS. “Vision: People and communities experiencing abundant life…Community development is the foundation of all our work. We start by listening. Partnering with local people to identify needs, IDEAS provides expertise that is missing or underrepresented in the community. Our associates are experts in Agriculture, Education, Health & Wellness, Disability Services, and Anti-Human Trafficking. We seek out and amplify the voices of the marginalized. With outstretched hands and humble hearts, our programs respect the local community while encouraging people to pursue the values of God’s kingdom” (from our website: https://ideasworld.org/ you will find updated information here about what we are doing and where we are going…) Our specific focus is to encourage workers in Asia (virtually, and in our recent visit) and we are sharing mission opportunities with churches and potential workers here in Hawaii. Also, we have been asked to be part of a gathering of our Associates in early 2025. “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread” (Psalm 37.25).     God has been very gracious to our family. We made a quick trip to Portland in early July. In the photo above we are with our son, Aaron, and Nathan's wife Heather, and their sons, Kekoa and Makana.   Our son, Nathan, turned 40 this summer, while he worked with a salmon fishing crew in Alaska for six weeks.  Nathan is home now as he and Heather and their boys get ready for the birth of  # 3 this Fall. This summer our son Josiah had a great visit with his daughter, Maylee, in Almaty! Maylee begins her third year of University in Kazakhstan this Fall. Josiah is working hard in Istanbul. His Tersane project is moving forward (https://www.tersaneistanbul.com.tr/) – if you’re looking for a condominium in a beautiful location, he’s your guy. Our youngest son, Aaron, just had a birthday too. We rejoice with Aaron and Kara who were married on May the 4th.  They are living in Eugene, Oregon. We celebrate God’s heart for the nations in our little church in Kapa’au, Hawaii – “Kalahikiola” – the dawning of a new day (https://www.kalahikiolacc.com/ ). Last Sunday we heard from Tami who was born and raised in our church and now serves in Honolulu. She works with young people being saved from drugs, gangs, and heartbreaks - even in ‘paradise!’  (https://www.life360network.org/ ). The six young people in the photo have already seen a lot of life. They came with her to our island for a work project.  Not all missionaries need a passport. We also had a young man from Mexico, here on a mission project, and a young man from Honolulu who is preparing for long term service in Armenia, with us for worship. They are great modern day living illustrations for my sermon series through the Book of Acts. Missions today are from everywhere to everywhere.

This month we had a “Keiki Bible Club.” Thirty children from our community came for a week of Gospel ministry. We were blessed to have a team come from Child Evangelism Fellowship to lead our program. We praise the Lord for their faithfulness to the Word and their kindness to the children.

Please pray with us as we reach out to children and their families in our community. We will have our August 25^th   Sunday service at our local beach - followed by a baptism.  

Recommended Reading for the Journey:

“If you are like most people, it probably doesn't seem all that long ago since you were a teeny bopper looking at people who were the age that you are now and seeing nothing but a drooping bag of varicose veins, flab, wrinkles, and dentures. You probably said to yourself in disgust, ‘I hope I'm dead before I get that old.’ Here you are. You are that old….Oh sure; you could easily do without the loss of memory, back ache, bleeding gums, fatigue, loss of memory, sore joints, bad heart, loss of memory, extra weight, hemorrhoids, chronic indigestion, loss of memory, arthritis and loss of memory. And the loss of memory can be tough too…The purpose of this book is to provide enough information that we can successfully eliminate your fear of a geriatric future...at least the ones that you can remember…By the way, did we mention that we have arthritis?”

from “Geezerhood” by Wayne Allred

^“The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance”                           (Psalm 16.6).

These words of David have proven so true for us. May you know this delight through our Lord Jesus - whom David called Lord - as we journey together round the sun!

Gratefully in Him, Mark and Dayna Blair

Phones Mark 808-218-4872 / Dayna 808-218-3698
 
Emails blairstan2@gmail.com  / mark.blair@ideasworld.org
 / dayna.blair@ideasworld.org
 
Blog http://blairstan.blogspot.com
 
Web Site https://pastormarkblair.org
 
IDEAS, 7852 South Elati Street, Suite 202, Littleton, Colorado 80120  www.ideasworld.org
 
https://ideasworld.org/associate/blair-mark-and-dayna-support-0471

Circle the Globe! Gain a Day!!

Aloha! We are back home in Kapa’au!

Thanks so much for praying for us during our month-long trek around the world. We praise the Lord for His mercies and gracious care. Thanks to those who shared your kind hospitality!

We spent time in 4 countries, two where we once lived.

After 30 plus hours of travel, we stepped from Hawaii into dry and sunny Madaba, the 9th-biggest city in Jordan, population 122,008. It was a Moabite border city in the bronze age. Today large historic churches freely worship Jesus peacefully in this predominantly Muslim city. We stayed six days, enjoying fellowship with IDEAS colleagues. We both shared messages on leadership from the life of Moses.

  

The food was delicious, and people were warm and welcoming. We climbed down to the cell where John the Baptist was beheaded, stood where Elijah was taken by a whirlwind to heaven, saw where heaven’s dove landed on the baptized Jesus, and walked up Mt. Nebo where Moses took his final view of the Promised Land. We enjoyed friendly chats with Jordanians who proudly considered Jesus their own homeboy. None that we met doubted whether He existed!

 

From Jordan we flew north to Türkiye. We enjoyed three days in amazing Cappadocia. We climbed through ancient caverns which housed people during times of turmoil, even persecuted Christians. We met an IDEAS colleague who has served well there for a number of years.

Then we flew to the beautiful old city of Istanbul for a visit with our son, Josiah. It was great to see the Tersane project and meet his colleagues. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50YUM1IjrMo) It was great for us proud parents to see the good work he is doing there.

 

 Then we returned to a place we lived for 11 happy years Almaty, Kazakhstan. We were so thankful to be with friends, colleagues, and especially our granddaughter, Maylee. It was a special joy to celebrate Easter again, according to the Julian calendar followed by Orthodox Christians, with dear friends at Almagul Presbyterian Church. Four days in Almaty sped by!

Then we returned to where we spent the next 12 years of our lives, Beijing, China. We rejoiced to connect with dear friends and colleagues. We were encouraged by visits with IDEAS associates. It has been three years since we moved back to USA. The resilience of faithful Christians to worship and witness amidst the tightening grip of opposition magnified God’s power and purpose.

Our hearts were stolen by three new friends. They were abandoned as babies because they were not considered whole. But caring Christians rescued them. They are daily proving how loving care, healthy food, and prayerful concern bring life. Best of all, they now have a Father whose Son has made them complete. Sara, on my lap, cannot hear very well, but she has just learned to sing. We loved her first song, “耶稣爱我” - Jesus Loves Me! 

After circling the globe we were surprised by the pilot’s announcement when we landed in Honolulu, “It is Thursday, May 16^th.” Again?! Opps! I forgot the International Dateline. Thank you, Southwest, for freely changing our inter-island flight with smiles! And for friends coming to the Kona airport 24 hours earlier than expected! So, one way or another, we made all our connections by the grace of sustaining mercies of God! Praise the Lord!

    

We are thankful to be back with our church family at Kalahikiola. The Chief Shepherd took good care of His flock here. Thanks for your prayers as we continue to serve this congregation and work as Church Ambassadors for IDEAS to the islands and for colleagues in Asia.

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you…the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world”      Colossians 1.3-6 NIV

 

In Him who Saves to the Uttermost, Mark and Dayna Blair

 

Phones Mark 808-218-4872 / Dayna 808-218-3698

 

Emails blairstan2@gmail.com  / mark.blair@ideasworld.org

 / dayna.blair@ideasworld.org

 

Blog http://blairstan.blogspot.com

 

Web Site https://pastormarkblair.org

 

IDEAS, 7852 South Elati Street, Suite 202, Littleton, Colorado 80120  www.ideasworld.org

 

https://ideasworld.org/associate/blair-mark-and-dayna-support-0471

 

 

 

 

Risen Champion of the Islands!

 

Aloha, this Easter Monday!

We praise the Lord for allowing us to once again rejoice in Him as we remembered the greatest week of human history! How thankful for we are for “…our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1.9,10 NIV). The tomb is empty, all God’s promises are “Yes!” and “Amen!” in Him. I, Mark, am eternally grateful that 52 years ago this high school kid trying to find fun during Easter camp on Catalina Island was found by Him who has given me a lifetime of fun. Christ is Risen, Indeed!

We recently represented IDEAS at the Hawaiian Islands Ministries conference in Honolulu. We met a number of people who are thinking through how to use their gifts and skills as part of God’s global mission.  We shared with them various ways that IDEAS is at work to provide marginalized individuals and vulnerable communities the opportunity to live flourishing, abundant lives.  At IDEAS, we focus on holistic community development. We work with local communities to address needs in agriculture, health & wellness, education, disability, and anti-human trafficking. (https://ideasworld.org/him)

In a couple weeks we plan to fly around the world! In mid-April we will take a ministry trip for IDEAS. We plan to join with our Community Life team and Middle East workers for a conference in Jordan. From there we plan to visit our son, Josiah, who works in Istanbul and our granddaughter in Almaty, Kazakhstan. We look forward to the ministry opportunities the Lord has placed before in the places we stop during our month of travel and service. We are very grateful for your prayers and support through IDEAS that allow us to make this journey.

We are grateful for the life the Lord has given us here in Kapa’au, Hawaii. “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance” (Psalm 16.6). The people of Kalahikiola Church have become a loving family in Christ. Our small town turns out the lights by 8 pm.   

We joined with Christians from our community to “Walk the Cross” on Good Friday. It helped us remember and appreciate the righteous sufferings of our gracious Lord who bore the wrath of God for sins. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Six churches from our Kohala community joined together for our Sunrise service this morning. Our men from Kalahikiola Church began scrambling eggs for 200 people at 3 am. We praise the Lord for the clear Gospel message presented by the pastor of the Baptist church who came to know Jesus right here in this town. He came as a New Age seeker and found Him who makes all things New!

Then we had our Kalahikiola Church service later in the morning,  ten miles along the coast, at Keokea Beach Park. Our members and a number of visitors gathered to praise our Risen Lord.

 

 We closed our service hearing the testimony of three young women who have decided to follow Jesus. Then we walked down to the water and they were baptized!

 Just one tiny spot on our globe. The tip of a small island in the vast Pacific Ocean. Yet the Risen Jesus was lifted up in our praise as we gathered in His Name – as He is in every place where people call upon Him – including your neck of the woods! 

“Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim his praise in the islands. The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies” (Isaiah 42.12,13).

Gratefully captured by His Grace, Mark and Dayna Blair

 

Phones Mark 808-218-4872 / Dayna 808-218-3698

 

Emails blairstan2@gmail.com  / mark.blair@ideasworld.org

 / dayna.blair@ideasworld.org

 

Blog http://blairstan.blogspot.com

 

Web Site https://pastormarkblair.org

 

IDEAS, 7852 South Elati Street, Suite 202, Littleton, Colorado 80120  www.ideasworld.org

 

https://ideasworld.org/associate/blair-mark-and-dayna-support-0471